For the past half century, John Keegan, the greatest military historian of our time, has been returning to the scenes of America's most bloody and wrenching war to ponder its lingering conundrums: the continuation of fighting for four years between such vastly mismatched sides; the dogged persistence of ill-trained, ill-equipped, and often malnourished combatants; the effective absence of decisive battles among some two to three hundred known to us by name.

Now Keegan examines these and other puzzles with a peerless understanding of warfare, uncovering dimensions of the conflict that have eluded earlier historiography.

While offering original and perceptive insights into psychology, ideology, demographics, and economics, Keegan reveals the war's hidden shape - a consequence of leadership, the evolution of strategic logic, and, above all, geography, the Rosetta Stone of his legendary decipherments of all great battles.

The American topography, Keegan argues, presented a battle space of complexity and challenges virtually unmatched before or since. Out of a succession of mythic but chaotic engagements, he weaves an irresistible narrative illuminated with comparisons to the Napoleonic Wars, the First World War, and other conflicts.

The American Civil War is sure to be hailed as a definitive account of its eternally fascinating subject.

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Quotes & Awards

engaging….The master of military history [writes] a highly readable overview of the war that goes far beyond merely describing who fought where. Through Keegan’s book, one gains an understanding of why the battles happened as they did, where they did, and how they fit into the whole story of the war and its resulting influence on our nation. Both the casual reader and the Civil War buff will find much to appreciate in this excellent work.Bookpage

Keegan brings his enormous talents for understanding the ‘face of battle’….follow[ing] such writers as T. Harry Williams and James McPherson in assessing generalship….His emphasis on the role of military training, geography, the importance of entrenchments, the use of firepower and infantry tactics, and the technology of war gives Keegan’s book a primary place in the annals of modern warfare….the single best one-volume assessment of the military character and conduct of America’s ordeal by fire….Highly recommended.Randall Miller, Library Journal

Keegan, an Englishman with a matchless knowledge of comparative military history, approaches [the Civil War] as a choice specimen with fascinating oddities. His more thematic treatment [allows for] far-ranging discussions of broader features. Keegan soars above the conflict to delineate its contours, occasionally swooping low to expand on a telling detail or moment of valor or pathos. Keegan’s elegant prose and breadth of learning make this a stimulating…interpretation of the war.Publisher’s Weekly

A solid history of the Civil War by the grand master of military writing….a shrewd portrait of mid-19th-century America and the background to the war. Keegan stresses big-picture issues of politics, diplomacy, strategy and daily life, so history buffs who skim the battle scenes will still have plenty of rich insights to contemplate. Though he is no revisionist, the author delivers a few jolts….no reader should pass up the chance to read Keegan.Kirkus

Acclaim for John Keegan's THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

[A]ssiduously researched and comprehensive…Keegan gives us a vivid, panoramic overview of dynamic, mid-19th century America…. Besides providing an insightful description of the more urban, industrial North and the slaveholding, agricultural South, Keegan takes us on an authoritative grand tour of Civil War battles…. He has walked these killing grounds [which] he clearly and knowingly describes…. Keegan pays close attention to the geography and logistics of battles and how they related to grand military strategy….Aside from the cinematic battle descriptions, Keegan delves deeply into the psychological makeup of the leading generals…. he is able to examine American history more objectively and with insights that might elude an American historian.…Written for the general reader, The American Civil War is a wonderfully concise, comprehensive and insightful work. It is also heartfelt history.Chris Patsilelis, Philadelphia Inquirer

Keegan takes the long view of [the Civil War], putting it into broad historical context amid history’s great conflicts, from the Napoleonic wars and World War I to Vietnam.Dwight Garner, New York Times

[Keegan] applies his outstanding grasp on the nature of human conflict to offer a fresh evaluation of the American Civil War….Among the numerous areas he explores are psychology, ideology, and demographics, but most tellingly, the role of geography in the unfolding course of the war.Nicholas Basbanes, Fine Books Magazine

[T]houghtful, incisive, and so much more than repetitious accounts of which regiment went where…. From the first paragraph it is evident that this is a thoughtful work…. [Keegan] breaks down the elements of battle in the war, noting the unusual fact that they were so frequent compared to other wars of the time, and so intense, and ponders how a single democratic society could produce such a ferocious intensity of war against itself….cogent, well-argued and insightful book, which approaches so much of the story from a vantage different than that of most of our Civil War scholarship.William C. Davis, The Military Book Club

[In t]his sophisticated survey….Keegan places battle strategy at the core of his narrative but does not get mired in the sandbox of the mechanics of war. His balanced interpretation illuminates changes shaped by combat, but his analysis moves beyond battlefield outcomes….With fluid assurance Keegan distils the challenging literature that has made the Civil War one of the 19th century’s most popular subjects [and] weaves together America’s rebirth of freedom with the transformative powers of a war that turned home guards into warriors when citizen soldiers replaced professional combatants…. Keegan’s encyclopaedic knowledge pays rich dividends, as he invokes examples, from Waterloo to the Somme, from Sherlock Holmes to Churchill [while his] asides offer fresh insight…. The precision and punch of Keegan’s narrative will please a broad audience.Catherine Clinton, BBC History Magazine

Keegan’s observations on the human and logistic factors are fascinating [and] contain the essence of what made the war different. Keegan’s lifelong study of war and engagement with American history from his earliest years endow his prose with a majesty of judgment….it is hard to see how Keegan’s masterful and thought-provoking book could be beaten.Allan Mallinson, The Times (London)

Instead of adding to the pile of chronicles of the American Civil War, [Keegan] has written a critique of them, from the point of view of a deep-thinking, distinguished military historian [with] penetrating insight, a trenchant style and unexpected angles of approach….a delightful conceit, elegantly executed….The emphasis on geography is…most original….full of unexpected treasures….All Civil War buffs will enjoy this study and learn something from it.Hugh Brogan, Telegraph (London)

One of our finest military historians, Keegan brings a shrewd and discerning eye to [the Civil War]…. [Keegan’s] grasp of how the generals wrested to formulate grand strategy in a context of evolving resources, an uncertain appreciation of topography in the absence of good maps, and definitive developments on the battlefield [exemplify his] commanding grasp of warfare in the modern era. The American Civil War derives much of its freshness from the author’s broad perspective across time and place.Richard Carwardine, Literary Review

Sir John’s achievement is to bring an international perspective….As well as looking back at European influences, Sir John looks forward to how the civil war changed European warfare.Economist

one of the world’s most eminent military historians….[presents] a new overview of what can truly be regarded as the first modern war….In its range and sweep, this book is difficult to better and promises to become the definitive account of the conflict from this side of the Atlantic.John Crossland, Daily Mail

[The] leading military historian of the English-speaking world….has now turned this hand to writing a comprehensive military history of the American Civil War….rich and nutritious book….fascinating….excellent portraits of all the principal commanders on both sides….every page of this book is incisive and readable. Even American experts on this terrible and absorbing conflict will learn much from Keegan’s account of it.Paul Johnson, Standpoint“a captivating narrative, huge in scope.

Keegan excels at explaining the events and circumstances leading up to the Civil War, and explores how it might not have happened. He depicts with great clarity the haphazard nature in which both governments and armies entered the war. Keegan describes President Abraham Lincoln’s frustrations with his generals with such realism that you almost have a sense of being there with Lincoln….an intimate description of Robert E. Lee’s surrender [is] one of the best I have read. Here, Keegan shows his talents as a historian as he states that Americans recognize the Civil War as ‘the struggle which completed the Revolution and made possible the realism of the ideals on which the Founding Fathers launched the Republic in the 1770s.’ Amen….This British historian has thereby nailed the American psyche’s captivation with its Civil War.James T. Course, Times Higher Education

Written in crisp prose [with] a confident, distinctive voice…insightful [and] amusing….On matters of grand strategy Keegan is at his best. He comprehends the Civil War as a whole, as a war won or lost in the vast western theater, and one in which the winners were those few generals, along with Abraham Lincoln, who developed a ‘geostrategic appreciation,’ a national rather than local understanding, of the conflict….Keegan’s own geographic range inspires comparative insights that will prod….Keegan’s exploration of how and why the war was fought the way it was fought leaves us much to ponder.David W. Blight, Slate

an impressive body of ideas for specialists and general readers alike to ponder.Dennis Showalter, American History Magazine

Even buffs steeped in the subject will find value in Keegan’s observations and conclusions, especially about the nature of battle….The one-volume approach is refreshing and, these days, unusual.Joe Mysak, Bloomberg News

an intelligent survey of the conflict….Keegan offers many trenchant asides….is shrewd about Ulysses Grant’s ability to leverage ‘evolving technologies’ [and] draws an interesting parallel between the approaches of Stonewall Jackson and the German World War II leader, Erwin Rommel….Keegan is fresh, stimulating and even provocative.Alan Cate, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Listener Opinions

Ben | 2/20/2014

" A bit disappointing, at least compared to some of Keegan's better books. It does serve a pretty good overview of the Civil War, though I'm not sure how much additional information or insight someone who has read a fair amount of Civil War history would get. Keegan's books on the first and second World War were exciting and enjoyable reads--this one doesn't have the snap of either of the two of them, which is what I was expecting from this book. "

Ed | 2/14/2014

" An excellent book on the American Civil War by the well-known British military historian. It has the virtues of an outsider's viewpoint. One of the few books that doesn't fawn over Lee. He makes the case that Grant's grasp on strategy was much deeper than Lee's. "

Mickey Mantle | 2/10/2014

" A great concise military history. A wonderful read. To the point. "

David | 1/28/2014

" I really enjoyed Keegan's "The American Civil War." I found it to be interesting, well-written and researched. Like all Keegan's books, I keep it on my self for handy reference. I heard that Dr. McPherson gave the book a less than stellar review. I don't understand why. "

Graeme Stewart | 1/14/2014

" A great concise history of the Civil War, with a focus on Military issues. Keegan likes to organize his histories around a theme, and here he attempts to answer why the South was able to last as long as it did. A good read, but not great if you want the grander social and political sweep. "

W | 12/17/2013

" Not Stephen Sears, in that Keegan cruises over the major battles to identify and focus the themes. The best war writer deserves to be read. "

Evelyn | 11/30/2013

" Quite well written. I skimmed some parts because I was reading it mainly as research for a paper about logistics. "

Christopher | 8/4/2013

" An insightful look at the American Civil War by a British historian no less. "

Adam | 7/19/2013

" Very interesting points, such as the terrain of America being an aspect of why the major battles were so bloody. "

Andreww | 3/6/2013

" This was an excellent scamper through the salient points and key battles, learnt loads, good preparation for Spielberg's Lincoln movie "

Kerry F. | 1/15/2012

" If you had told me this was written by a Southerner less than a decade removed from the war, I would not have been surprised. This was the most shoddy example of historical scholarship I have ever had the unfortunate luck of reading. "

Vivian | 12/16/2011

" I always like Keegan, in general I liked the book. It lacked the good organization of his WWI, WWII books, some odd repetition and jumps in time when moving from zone to zone of the war. "

Gary Ganong | 11/8/2011

" Keegan writes a different view of the Civil War, one which looks at strategy. He explains why both sides entered this conflict, why it was necessary and why it lasted so long. "

Zazzu | 5/27/2011

" This was ok. Listened to it in my car. Informationally it's quite good but it gets a bit dry at times. It was quite date and times heavy which made it textbooklike, but it did remain interesting enough to keep me going. "

Gary | 3/26/2011

" Keegan writes a different view of the Civil War, one which looks at strategy. He explains why both sides entered this conflict, why it was necessary and why it lasted so long.
"

John | 11/11/2010

" I feel sacrilegious saying this, but I found the book very disappointing.
"

Mark | 2/14/2010

" Not a bad book. He had a few inaccuracies (US GRant served as President until 1884 (actually until 1876). Otherwise it was a good comprehensive narrative about the defining experience of America
"

W | 12/20/2009

" Not Stephen Sears, in that Keegan cruises over the major battles to identify and focus the themes. The best war writer deserves to be read.
"

Other Titles by John Keegan:

About the Author

John Keegan is the defense editor of the Daily Telegraph (London) and Britain’s foremost military historian. He is the author of many bestselling books, including The First World War, Intelligence in War, and The Battle for History. He lives in Wiltshire, England.

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